Fruit press



June 30, 1942. R. J. cHEEsMAN 2,283,393

I FRUIT PRESS Filed June-20, 19:58 2 Sheets-Sheet l Junel 30? 1942. R J, CHEESMAN l2,288,393

FRUIT PRESS Filed June 20, 1938 2 Sheetsrsheet 2 Patented 1June 30, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRUIT PRESS Raymond J Cheesman, Morgantown, W. Va. Application June 20, 1938, Serial No. 214,821

1I Claims.

force greater than the manually applied force resulting in dinicultly operable devices. The greatest advance has been in the constructionof the screw-down plunger type which require an awkward and considerable amount of cranking.

An object of my invention is to provide a lever actuated press, having a convenient short lever, suitable for kitchen and counter use with the least possible storage and operating space, the

least operating movement, and yet with a maximum compressional force with the least actuating force.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments of my invention and by which the same may be practiced.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have illustrated inv perspective a cabinet or counter type of press embodying my invention. Other views of this embodiment are shown in the vfollowing two iigures of which: e

Fig. 2 is a vertical section at line 2- 2 of Fig.

' l; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section at line 3-3 of Fig. 1. In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated in perspective, opened and closed views of the hand type of press incorporating my improvement, sectional views of which are shown in the following two figures of which:

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-section of Fig. 4 at line 6 6; and

Fig. 7, a section taken at line l-l of Fig. 5.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. l and the associated views, Figs. 2 and 3, my invention comprises a base preferably U-shaped to receive a glass or other container and terminating in leg portions 2 I of suiiicient length to brace the. device against tilting in the operation thereof. Upon the base is mounted a vertically disposed standard or support 22, which is preferably, though not necessarily, provided with a reenforcing edge portion 23, for the support of various elements of the device including a receiving cup 24. For the support of the receiving cup, and other purposes presently described, the support 22 to support the same at more than one side and also to serve as a shield therearound.

One or more apertures are provided ,as shown by character reference 40 in Figures 2 and 3,

through the base portion of the cup 24 through which the prepared substance may drain or pass from the cup to a container. Within the cup is mounted an element 25 which may be termed and serve as a press mold or die over which the fruit or vegetable is to be compressed. 'Ille member 25 is preferably removable for exchange and cleansing purposes and is preferably of a design.

size and shape most suitable to the configurationl The standard or support 22 is formed or provided at its upper end or edge with means whereby a lever may be fulcrumed. Suitable means for this purpose may comprise, as shown, one or more bearings 26 adapted to operably receive a pin or shaft 21 towhich a lever 28 is hingedly connected by one or more bearings 29 on one end of said lever.

The standard 22 is also formed or provided at its upper end or edge with means whereby a bifurcated lever may be fulcrumed by the arms thereof. Suitable means' for this purpose may comprise, as shown, a. pair of spaced axially aligned bearings 30 positioned above opposite sides of the member 25 and forwardly of and axially parallel with the bearings 26.

The bearings 30 are adapted to operably receive stud shafts 3| projecting, respectively, laty erally outward from'the end portions of the arms preferably extends around a portion of the cup 5,5

of a bifurcated lever 32 by which bearings and shafts the lever may be fulcrumed to the standard.- The shank 33 of the forked lever is designed to serve as a handle.

Means are provided for actuating lever 28 by lever 32 and for transmitting the force of lever 32, resulting from the application of force to the handle 33, to lever 28. Suitable means for this purpose comprise, as shown, groove-like cams 34 in the arms of the lever 32 which are adapted to operably receive cam follower shaft 35 projecting bearing @t on the prises, as shown, a press member 3l' hingedly suspended from the central portion of the cam fol?- lovver shaft 35 by means of a bea iid, in a manner whereby the members 22e and 3l may cooperatively act in cameo and intaglio, respectively, upon an article oi rood for the purpose described.

Features of my invention are also incorporated in the readily portable nut-cracker type oi -press illustrated in Figure e, and the associated Figures 5, d and 7, as distinguished from the counter or cabinet type heretofore described. ln the dis closures oi? the nut-cracker type ci press the ele ments indicated by character reference numerals bearing the sumx d are elements similar in function to the elements oi the previously described type oi press, which bears like character reference numerals except ior the addition oi the letter d More speciiically, the latter type of press comprises a base lever 2te having a projecting handle portion 2id. The press mold 25a is however, not carried by the base in this instance but in an inverted manner by the short lever 2te, which lever is fulcrumed to the base by means oi bearings 2te and 2li@ on the lever 28a and base 2da, respectively, through which bearings a pin or shaft ile is passed.

The base ls also provided with bearings lilla whereby a forked lever 32a, having a handle shank 33a may be fulcrumed by means of stud shafts Sia projecting laterally from the ends of the arms oi .the forked lever. The arms of lever 32a are provided with cams @da for operably con trolling lever 2da by means of cam follower dba operably held by bearings lita on the lever Ella.

The base 2da is provided with a press member @la reversed .with respect to the similar element of the previously described type of press in order that the member isla may also serve as a receiving cup. By this arrangement, if the open faced portion of the fruit or vegetable, to be compressed, is placed race downward upon the press member Bla the cooperative function of the member' 25a will reverse the rind of the fruit, if it contains one, or. force the juices therefrom. This combined press member and receiving cup Sla is also provided with the customary strainer or drainage apertures (lila as shown in Figures d, 6, and 7.

The members 25a and fila of the latter type of press act in cameo and intaglio similarly as do members 25 and 3l of the counter type of press.

Having described the basicelements and gen# eral arrangements thereof of practical forms of my invention, the objects and more specific arrangements of the elements will be discussed in order to disclose the principlesof operation and f bitrary could hardly be justified by a length more than approximately 121/2 inches.

` for vevery pound or load on the handle.

aaeaaes Another consideration is the size of the article to be compressed by the device. `With this in mind the receiving cup 2G and press mold 25 should be large enough to receive the largest specimen oi fruit which is likely to be found in the market, and the shape should also be such as to accommodate the smallest specimen likely to be found. .d suitable size for the cup 2d may therefore be approximately 5 inches in diameter while a suitable size for the press mold 25 may be approximately 31/4 inches at its greatest effective diameter.

The two necessary conditions which make the fruit press practicable are, therefore, a lever or handle of convenient length and cooperating members for the compression oi the article of diameters suitable to practically all sizes of articles to be compressed.

As described, the invention employs the principle of a lever with a iulcrum at one end, the load at the other end and the reaction somewhere between the two. A lever within-the arbitrary length mentioned can have nearly any ratio of load to the reaction. However, for ease oi operation it isdesirable to obtain the greatest possible ratio whereby maximum pressure may be brought to bear on the press mold with the same amount of load on the handle.4 This again `is a principle of myr improvements whereby better results are obtained with less exertion on .the part of the riser.

ln order to' explain the latter principle more fully, reference is made to Figures l and d, particularly, wherein the fulcrum may be noted as such, the load represented bythe handle, and the reaction represented oy/the axis upon which the press member 3l is mounted. As has been pointed out the lever 32 is forked and has its fulcrum on the sides of the cup 2d wherein the press mold 25 is positioned. By the expedient ci the forked lever it is possible to place the reaction, to the axis of the press member 3l, very close to the fulcrum of the lever 32, the space between the two being approximately of an inch. In the use of a straight single armed lever, howeventhe proximity of its ,fulcrum to the reaction (press axis) would have been limited to onehalf the diameter of the receiving cup, placing the fulcrum on the back rim of the standard 22 where, as shown in the drawings, the fulcrum of the lever 2d is located.

'To hypothetlcally examine the difference between a lever fulcrumed in line with the handle and the arrangement of lever 32 employed in my improved device, all other dimensions, arbitrarily taken, remaining the same: the former being approximately l2 inches (handle to fulcrum) divided by 2% inches (fulcrum to reaction) equals a ratio of 12 to 2.75 or 4.36 to l. The latter being approximately 9% inches (handle to fulcrum) divided by 7% inch (fulcrum to reaction) equals a ratio of 9.75 to 0.375or 26 to l. lFrom this set of facts it will be seen that by the expedient of a t'wo pronged forked lever a reaction oi 26 pounds is obtained for every pound of load on the handle, whereas by the former meth od not more than 4.36 pounds could be obtained The appreciable difference is acordingly an obvious desirable result. lx

To bring about a substantially vertical move ment of the press member 3l to and from c0-v operative relation with the press mold 25, reference is made to lever 2t with itsfulcruin on the rim of the receiving cup 2G directly behind the press member 31, the other end of the lever 28 being the press axis. The lever 28'may be termed a convenience .or delivery lever, which serves to move the press member 431 in an arc of approxi-y mold such as element 31 may receive thereactionl of a lever such as'lever 32 from a point on the lever 32 where the reaction will be greatest. By the forked lever arrangement the press mold may receive a reaction from that lever at a point nearer its iulcrum than one half rearwardly off the center of the press mold 25.

If the radius of the lever 28 were longer the arc of the press axis would be too slow in the acceleration of its horizontal movement in the upward swing. While on the other hand if the lever 28 were shorter the press member 31 would i approach the mold 25 with too much horizontal movement in its downward swing. Moreover, it would not move sufficiently oif the center to clear the receiving cup, i. e., the side walls thereof.

Bearing 38, which is preferably an integral part of the press member 31, iits between bear-zY ings 38 and is operably held in position by shaft 85. The press member 31 hangs vertically from the shaft by its own weight and to a minimum extent is guided by the press mold 25. By reason of the mounting of the press member 31 it remains substantially vertical as the press axis follows the downward arc of lever 28 and as it travels through the successive reactionary points strains the shaft of the press axis from worky ing out and also strengthens the lever section to resist bending and shearing.

Several purposes are served by the downward deflection of the lever 32. This deflection, however, has no effect on the ratio of the lever since its length is measured from the fulcrum to the.

end of the hande in a straight line perpendicular to the direction of the load. The rst advantage of the deflection is that pressure is more comfortably and conveniently applied when the handle is lowered and in turn greater stability is obtained; secondly, it places the handle at a greater distance from the grooved sections making the angle of the forli smaller thus offering more resistance to bending; thirdly, the angle formed by lever 32 in its two extreme positions is about 165 degrees and with the bend in the lever the arc segment described by the handle is in an advanced and a more convenient position for the user. i

The press mold 25 is preferably a separate and removable piece or member which ts into the receiving cup, and the press mold may also be formed with a trough around its lower circumference to serve as a means to catch seeds and pulp and prevent the same from flowing through the apertures to the receiving cup.

The type of press disclosed in Figure 4 and the associated figures is constructed and operates upon'the same theory as that described in connection with the press disclosed in Figure 1 and its associated figures.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by my the diameter of the press mold by reason of the fact that the fulcrums of the arms are positioned to the sides of the press mold affording the placement of the mold therebetween.

What I claim is:

l. A press comprising the combination of a bifurcated lever having its arms fulcrumed to a support, a circular pressure member slidingly secured at its pressure axis to said lever, means operable by said lever for moving said pressure member during the effective movement of said lever to a point where its pressure axis is nearer' the fulcrum of said lever than one half the diameter of said pressure member.

2. In a press the combination of a lever pivotally fulcrumed on 'a base, a pressure element having compression axis, means for pivotally mounting said pressure element in a manner whereby its compression axis is movable along a predetermined arc of uniform radius and which eccentrically circumscribes the axis of said fulcrum, and means slidingly connecting said pressure element to said lever in a manner whereby the lever in operation causes the pressureelement to be moved along its uniform arc and simultaneously moved eccentrically with respect to the arc of said lever and whereb-y upon thel movement of said lever `at least a part of said pressure element is moved through and intersects the axis of said lever fulcrum.

3. A press comprising in combination ga support, a receiving cup supported by said support and having a drainage aperture, a press mold member over which an article is adapted to be compressed removably mounted in said receiving cup and provided with` drainage apertures of a predetermined size, an arm-like member hingedly attached to said support in a manner whereby its free end may pass through an arc meeting the vertical axis of the press mold, a pressure member adapted to cooperate with said press mold suspended at its diametrical axis from the free end of said arm-like member in a manner whereby the said diametrical axis of the pressure member may pass along said arc into communication with the said vertical axis of the press mold, a bifurcated lever the arms of which are fulcrumed to said support with its fulcrum axis parallel with the fulcrum axis of said arm-like member and within said arc in a' manner whereby the said pressure member may pass between said arms, means for slidingly connecting the free end of said arm-like .member to the arms of said bifurcatedA lever whereby progressively greater reactions may be transmitted from said bifurcated lever to said pressure member upon the downward movement of the bifurcated lever. Y

4. A press of the class described comprising invention Ihave provided means whereby a press lever whereby the former is actuated by the latter to arcuately move said pressure element into and from cooperative relationship with said compression member, vand means operative near the end of the back stroke of said primaryvlever for tilting said pressure element about its mounting to a position accessibly presenting its pres,- sure face.

5. A press comprising in combination a support, bearing means carried by said support, a lever pivoted to and swinging about said bear-ing means as an axis, said support having .a cornpression element substantially symmetrical about a central pressure axis and positioned so that the projection of said axis passes said bearing means virtually contiguous to the axis of said bearing means, said lever having cam means extending to a point virtually contiguous to said bearing axis from a point remote therefrom, cam follower means associated with said cam means, pressure means connected to said cam follower means and arranged in cooperative relation to said compression element, a cam-'follower controller guiding said camnfollower along said cam means as said lever is swung, said controller guiding said cam follower in a path, during the active strolre of said pressure means, virtually in alignment with said pressure axis, said assemblage assuring maintenance of the reactionary point between said lever and cam means in virtual alignment with the pressure axis during the pressing operation concomitant with progressive movement of the cam follower to a point virtually contiguous to the bearing axis, with consequent extreme increase in the power ratio of ,the press, as the end of the pressing stroke is approached. A

6, lin a press, of the class described, a support, bearing means carried by said support, a lever pivoted to said bearing means as an axis, said lever having cam-means extending from a point relatively remote from said axis to a point virtually juxtaposed to said axis, cam follower means and a pressure member carried pendulously therefrom, and a support for said cam follower means pivoted on a fulcrum eccentric to the axis of said lever whereby the cam follower means is forced to progressively approach said lever axis as the lever is turned toward pressure-applying position and whereby the effort transmitted through said lever, cam means and cam follower is applied to said pressure member with increasing ratio.

'7. A press comprising in combination a support, a lever fulcrumed by bearing means to said support, said lever having cam means extending to a point contiguous to said bearing axis from a point remote therefrom, cam follower means operatively associated with said cam means and having an axis substantially parallel with said bearing axis, a pressure element connected to said cam follower means, and means pivoted to said support for making said cam follower means move progressively along said cam means in unison with the progressively moving reactionary point on said lever, during rotary movement of said lever, from a point remote from the bearing axis/of the lever to a point virtually contiguous tolsaid ybearing axis with consequent extreme inaaeasee crease of the power ratio of the lever to said pressure element.

8. A. press comprising a lever having a fulcrum t bifurcated lever having its arms fulcrumed to a support, a symmetrical pressure member of predetermined diameter adapted to pass between said arms, mounting means connecting said member to said lever intermediate the arms thereof in a manner whereby the pressure member may be moved through the bifurcated portion of said lever and whereby the reactionary forces of the lever, resulting from downward forces on the handle of the lever, are transmitted to said pressure element from points on the lever which progressively approach the lever fulcrum to a point nearer the fulcrum than one-half the diameter of said pressure member.

l0, A press comprising the combination of a support, a stationary compression member mounted on said support, a movable symmetrical pressure member adapted'to cooperate with said stationary member to compress an article therebetween, an arm pivotally connected at one point thereof to said support, said pressure member being pivoted to said arm at a point removed from the pivotal axis of the arm in a manner whereby the pressure member may be guided by said arm. through an arc of a predetermined radius about the pivotal axis of said arm into and from cooperative relation with said stationary member, a bifurcated lever having its legs4 fulcrumed to said support on a line whichwill be intersected by at least a portion of said pressure member as it is guided into cooperative relationship with said stationary member by said arm, and cooperative cam and cam-follower means on said lever and arm respectively where' vsaid stationary member.

il. i press comprising the combination of a primary lever fulcrumed to a support, a symmetrical pressure element fulcrumed to said support at a point eccentric to that of said lever, said pressure element having a compression axis and a diameter greater than twice the shortest distance from its compression axis to the axis of the fulcrum of the primary lever, when the press is in closed position, a stationary compression member, means slidably connecting said pressure element to said lever, for moving said pressure element into face to face'contiguous juxtaposition with said compression member, and `for moving the axis of .said pressure element toward and away from the fulcrum of said primary lever re- 

